Holey Moley we are killing trees like crazy. Having 4 boys in 4 school buildings this year my back-to-school paperwork is a mile high...well, maybe a mile long laid end to end! Read this, fill out this form, sign this, write a check for this, participate in this fundraiser. I am going crazy this year!
Couple of observations as we begin this school year:
We Need an Online Registration System
I am so tired of writing my name, address, and phone number on a form. I must have done it 20 times already. If there is an online K-12 school registration system out there, I want it. If there is none, let's write the program.
How hard can it be? If my little brain of mush is able to flowchart what I think would be helpful and useful, I'm sure an experienced computer programmer could whip this up in no time!
After our basic information is in the system, just send me an e-mail whenever you need to notify me of something, need my permission for something, money for something or anything else related to the schools or PTOs or boosters.
Send me an e-mail reminder when I fail to do something. Link this to the school library system so that when my child's book is overdue, I'll get an e-mail and we can scour the house looking for it! Link it to the lunch program so that when the money is low, I can add more.
Please don't send home a note.
And, um, people, I'm so tired of writing checks. Our online system will be Paypal, Visa, Master Card, etc. Every school entity will be integrated, even if they are a separate organization like a PTO.
Stop sending me papers.
To their credit, our school district already has many convenient online systems in place:
Listserv is used for e-mail notification of school closings and other news-related items.
Media Centers are computerized for check-in/check-out and all students have a library card.
Mymealtime.com is the system for school lunch program debit accounts.
Enjoylearning.com is the website for community education programs.
Edline is the method for teachers to post assignments and grades.
I Am Vehemently Against Magazine Subscription Sale Fundraisers
C'mon people! Let's not use a third-party fundraiser. Let's keep 100% of that donation.
I know that magazine sales are easy and very successful. But we are killing trees with the magazines that we are encouraging people to purchase. And, the fundraising packet of information that my boys brought home (and I promptly put in the recycle container) is HUGE. An enormous amount of paper is being used needlessly. Let's go green.
I will boycott the magazine sales and simply send in my check as my contribution.
Too bad I can't do it online.
Many schools are doing away with third-party fundraisers and moving toward mission-driven fundraising. Really, let's conduct a fundraiser that has SOMETHING to do with the school or students.
Magazines? Um, not so much.
Pine Ridge Elementary recently ended their wrapping paper fundraiser and now they do an all-school walk. Every student walks, every student gets a t-shirt, and every student is encouraged to generate $30 in donations. It has been extremely successful.
I've mentioned the above rants to many people and I'm not alone with my frustration. If I continue to make this an important issue...saving paper and in turn my sanity...maybe I can be part of making it happen.
Mark my words, I'm going to try to make some changes during my tenure as a parent in the Forest Hills School District! Who's with me?
...stepping off the soap box now
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Random Thoughts, post written May 2009
When I'm on a long telephone conversation, I get out the dust rag and clean as my penance.
I'm a purger...no, not food! About every week I take a load of forgotten, useless, outgrown or down-right annoying items to The Salvation Army.
Speaking of food, I make smoothies for the boys to get them to eat (drink) their fruit and homemade salsa gets them to eat their veggies.
We only have basic cable and I like it that way.
5 Things I'd Like for Mother's Day, post written May 2009
A kitchen timer that politely tells me when my food is done, not the obnoxious beeping one that I currently use.
A maid service every week for floors and bathrooms only.
Weston to be potty-trained effortlessly.
A secretary.
A photo album Fairy to come in and bring all my albums up to date.
Looks like I may be getting the kitchen timer...
A maid service every week for floors and bathrooms only.
Weston to be potty-trained effortlessly.
A secretary.
A photo album Fairy to come in and bring all my albums up to date.
Looks like I may be getting the kitchen timer...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Do People Blog Any More?
Seriously...in the age of Facebook and Twitter, do people blog?
Why don't I blog as much as I used to?
Probably because Facebook is quicker and easier and you can get instant gratification knowing that someone is reading it.
Probably because by the time I get around to thinking about and writing a blog post it has become old news compared to the ease and quickness of a one-line post on Facebook.
Probably because I don't know who is reading this blog, having strangers read my business is kind of creepy.
Probably because I am getting over the narcissism of having a blog.
Perhaps one day when I have something extremely funny or profound to say, I'll blog about it.
Perhaps if I want to share a major milestone, birthday, or other event, I'll blog about it.
Perhaps when the romance with Facebook wears off, I'll return to blogging.
In the meantime, if you are looking for any Baldwin family news, you'll find me on Facebook.
Why don't I blog as much as I used to?
Probably because Facebook is quicker and easier and you can get instant gratification knowing that someone is reading it.
Probably because by the time I get around to thinking about and writing a blog post it has become old news compared to the ease and quickness of a one-line post on Facebook.
Probably because I don't know who is reading this blog, having strangers read my business is kind of creepy.
Probably because I am getting over the narcissism of having a blog.
Perhaps one day when I have something extremely funny or profound to say, I'll blog about it.
Perhaps if I want to share a major milestone, birthday, or other event, I'll blog about it.
Perhaps when the romance with Facebook wears off, I'll return to blogging.
In the meantime, if you are looking for any Baldwin family news, you'll find me on Facebook.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Yesterday
It was surreal. A big black Lincoln town car drove slowly around the corner into the cul-de-sac. It pulled up to the house and backed into the driveway. The uniformed driver got out, then Scott got out of the back seat.
He was being chauffeured home because his job was eliminated and he had to give up his company car.
That was it, his last day of work at ADP.
As I watched out the window Scott carried his box of belongings into the house along with his work bag. The driver said something like, "Good luck to ya, man" and then drove off.
Ok then, my husband is now home for the summer! Let the party begin!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
This was e-mailed to me today. I can so relate!
If You Give a Mom a Muffin
If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.
She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
Written by Kathy Fictorie - Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If You Give a Mom a Muffin
If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
So she'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for the checkbook.
The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.
She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
Written by Kathy Fictorie - Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
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